Self-driving cars technology reduces motorcycles crushes

Current auto industry will be much changed in the near future with the help of the self-driving technology. Not only the cars, but also the business of selling motorcycles will expand, although in a different way.

According to the engineers-developers in BMW Motorrad, safety of self-driving technology will be the key for expanding motorcycle sales in the future. It will attract whole new group of consumer who always wanted two two-wheelers, but have never been brave enough to buy one.

A vehicle turning across a lane of opposing traffic has little to do with the bike rider, but is one of the most dangerous things in motorcycling.

U.S. motorcyclists suffered 14.2 percent of all traffic deaths in 2015

According to crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one out of five lethal motorcycle crushes happens in a situations when a vehicle turning across a lane of opposing traffic. Cars traveling in the same direction as the motorcycle often don’t notice the bike overtaking on the left. Cars making a turn while coming from the opposite direction either fail to see the oncoming bike, or misjudge its speed.

Theoretically, robotic cars won’t make these mistakes. First of all, while motorcycle with sensors or radar approaching system will alert the driver or actively prevent the vehicle from cutting off the bike. But that’s not all. In some point motorcycles will communicate with all other vehicles on the road, constantly reminding them where they are, where they are heading, and at what speed.

Boston Consulting Group predicting the boost will arise in markets such as the U.S., where people ride for fun, or China and India, where motorbikes are the choice of many because of relatively inexpensive transportation. In Europe, on the other hand, where motorcycles are driven in order to avoid traffic, this can’t be easily predicted but it will depend from the motivation and the location.

Fatalities in U.S. for all drivers are rising, and as revealed by one shocking statistic: While bikers account for less than 1 percent of vehicle miles traveled in the U.S., motorcyclists suffered 14.2 percent of all traffic deaths in 2015.

Distraction is a big problem. An estimated one in 10 fatal crashes is caused by not watching the road, though the real number could be far higher than the data suggest. Distraction is difficult to measure after the fact, unlike blood-alcohol levels. Smartphone technology and texting are often a potential cause.

Hopefully, autonomous cars will change shocking statistics for better. General Motors new cars will be partly in charge of driving by 2020, and fully in control by 2025. According to Tesla Motors forecasting half of all cars made in 2022 or 2023 will be fully autonomous.

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